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By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — The 65,000-square-foot Tiger Athletic & Community Center opened last month in the Shelby Township Community Park, at 4101 Buchanan Rd., and the community will get a chance to celebrate its grand opening Wednesday, July 29.
The $9.4 million facility was funded partially through $3.1 million in grants, and the remaining costs were procured through private donations, said Shelby Township Supervisor Richard Raffaelli. More donations are needed to fund a remaining balance of $225,000, Raffaelli said. No local tax money or millages were used to fund the project.
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“The majority of the TACC was built with private funds,” said Shelby Township Administrative Assistant/Deputy Clerk Beth Schultz. Major donors’ names are displayed on a wall inside the reception area.
The state-of-the-art indoor recreation facility is expected to become a premier destination for sports, fitness and family entertainment.
KemperSports Venues, a leading provider of sports, recreation, and hospitality management experience services based in Northbrook, Ill., is managing and operating the new facility.
OCP photo/TACC General Manager Vanessa Fernandez-Torres, at left, and Shelby Township Administrative Assistant/Deputy Clerk Beth Schultz.
The center “features a diverse mix of athletic, fitness, and entertainment amenities,” including:
- An indoor walking track;
- Two basketball courts that can be converted into four volleyball courts or six pickleball courts;
- An indoor turf field designed for soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, and other sports;
- A fitness center;
- A rock climbing wall;
- An indoor archery live lane and simulator;
- A golf simulator;
- Batting tunnels;
- An arcade;
- A children’s playscape.
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The second level of the facility where the walking track is located also offers several exercise machines. More may be added based on the community’s need, said TACC General Manager Vanessa Fernandez-Torres.
I’move, a physical therapy clinic with Orthopaedic Associates of Muskegon, is located inside the complex on the main floor.
Multiple meetings with the township’s park committee, public hearings and resident surveys were conducted leading up to the construction of TACC, said the township supervisor.
The facility caters to all ages and athletic levels, said Raffaelli. “Our children, seniors and everyone in between will have a safe place to increase their fitness level or simply enjoy a birthday party.” A large meeting room adjacent to the facility’s arcade is the ideal location for serving food and opening presents.
OCP photo/Some of the team members you will see at TACC.
After the birthday meal, kids can then go and explore and play in the facility. An inflatable bounce house and obstacle course are available to rent for parties, too. “The obstacle course is over 30 feet long,” said Schultz.
“There is an option to reserve court time if you’re having an event or want to have people over to play a game,” said Fernandez-Torres. “As part of the membership, there is a free court drop-in.”
“As a parent, I am so excited for my kids to have a place like this,” said Schultz. “It’s a huge benefit not only for the local community, but also the outlying community, especially in the winter months.”
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Memberships can be purchased monthly or yearly, said Fernandez-Torres. For those who purchase a yearly membership and pay it all up front, they get two free months. Drop-in options are also available. “If you’re in the area on vacation, and you want to come for the day,” said Schultz.
“This facility has an endless expiration date if maintained so generations to come will enjoy it,” said Raffaelli. “The other benefit is that out-of-town visitors receive exposure to Shelby and Oceana County.”
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Not only is there the convenience of TACC’s location inside the new township park, but it is also in close proximity to the William Field Memorial Hart-Montague Trail. The Shelby Township Community Park, which opened two years ago, offers two full-sized baseball fields, three rec soccer fields, a varsity soccer field, a dog park, walking trails, a rentable amphitheater with a concession stand, public restrooms, a toddler playground, a playground for elementary-age kids, a bike track, a rentable pavilion space, picnic tables with umbrellas, sitting silos, basketball courts, six pickle ball courts, an outdoor exercise area, a bike station, barbecuing grills, a parking area that accommodates 100 over vehicles and electrical vehicle chargers.
“It’s accessible to so many people, and there is something here for everyone,” said Fernandez-Torres of the new TACC. “It’s so very clear and evident what this means to the community.”
The facility, which will serve as a venue for high-quality programming, events, and community activities, is a boost to the local economy with about 86 construction jobs created during the building phase of the complex. The TACC currently employs a base staff of 13 people, but that number is expected to grow as the facility offers more programs and events, said Fernandez-Torres.
A Florida native, the general manager has a strong background in exercise group fitness. She has a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Florida Gulf Coast University and a master’s degree in applied
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exercise physiology from the University of Central Florida. She also has an MBA with an emphasis on leadership from Florida Gulf Coast University. She worked at Universal Studios Florida Theme Park. “That’s where my leadership experience started. I was the supervisor of attractions there when I left.” She also worked for an athletic facility in Florida and was a fitness manager, group exercise manager and a regional group exercise manager. That job landed her in Michigan where she served as the director of operations overseeing the organization’s largest facility in Grand Rapids.
Hours currently are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and Sunday hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The grand opening ceremony is scheduled to begin between 1 and 2 p.m., followed by an afternoon open house with guided tours.
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“The Tiger Athletic & Community Center was created to serve as a year-round destination for recreation, fitness, youth sports and community engagement,” states a press release from the township. “Designed to bring people of all ages together, TACC provides modern amenities that support active lifestyles while creating opportunities for families, athletes and residents to connect.”
Following the ceremony, guests are invited to tour the facility, meet community leaders and staff, and experience everything the center has to offer. Complimentary sandwiches, cookies and refreshments will be available throughout the event.
“This facility represents an investment in the future of our community,” said Raffaelli. “The Tiger Athletic & Community Center will provide a place where residents can stay active; families can spend time together; and youth and adults alike can participate in sports, wellness, and recreational programs for years to come.”
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